Situated in the province of Brescia, it is in the middle of the Pianura Padana: 29 kms South of Brescia and 28 kms North of Cremona.

The Municipality of Verolanuova

A panoramic view

Coat of arms

Country Italy

Region Lombardy

Province Brescia (BS)

Frazioni Breda Libera, Cadignano

• Mayor M.C. Bragadina (Lega Nord)

•Area Total 24 km2 (9 sq mi)

•Population (1 July 2008) Total 8,007

• Density Bad rounding here330/km2

(Bad rounding here860/sq mi)

• Demonym Veroles

Patron saint St. Lawrence

Saint day 10 August

Roman Basilica Minore of St. Lawrence Martyr

The laying of the foundation stone took place on 10th august 1633, when the village was called Verola Alghise, from the name of Alghisio Gambara, wealthy feudal lord from Leno. The name “Verolanuova” appeared only at the end of the XVIII century. A Gamabara’s relative, S. Carlo Borromeo believed that the parish church wasn’t sufficiently spacious. So, in 1630, after the plague, the new church was expanded and it can be considered a votive offering. In the area where the new church was built, the oratory of the Discipline was probably previously located. The new construction was designed by Antonio and Domenico Comino from Botticino. The plan was chosen according to the guidelines of S. Carlo Borromeo, written in the work “Instructiones Fabricæ et Supellectilis Ecclesiasticæ” of 1573. These guidelines were about the need of a Latin-cross plan, called “counter reformed plan” .

HISTORICAL OUTLINE

The plan of the Basilica

The Basilica of Verolanuova was built during the Counter-Reformation. With this expression we indicate the historical period from the end of the Council of Trent which took place in 1563 to the XVII century, characterised by the reaction of the Church against the Protestant Reformation. The Council of Trent (begun in 1545 and finished in 1563) decided: The acceptance of the Vulgate; The confirmation of the intermediary role of the Church between God the Father and the man; The recognition of the salvific role of the charitable gestures; The confirmation of the value of the sacraments; The confirmation of the existence of the Purgatory. The last part of the Council was dominated by the figure of S. Carlo Borromeo who became bishop of Milan and who was Pio IV’s nephew. This influence is present in the paintings in the Basilica, which follow the directions of the Council of Trent, as regards the abolition of the nudity and the preference of martyrdom’s scenes; the martyrs, with their sacrifice, became the best example for a Church which had to repel Luther’s attack. Even if The Basilica of Verolanuova wasn’t finished it was consecrated on 30th June 1647; a Latin epigraph in the sacristy, reminds the consecration .

ECCLESIAM HANC COLLEGIATAM INSIGNEM, PAR. AC PRAEP. IN HON. S. LAURENTII AC ANTONII DE P. MARCUS MAUROCENUS BRIXIAE EPISCOPUS DIE XXX JUNII MDCXLVII CONSECRAVIT DEDICATIONIS VERO DIEM AD II JULII DOM. SINGULIS ANNIS CELEBRANDAM DECREVIT TRADUCTION: Brescia Bishop Marco Morosini consecrated this Basilica on 30th June 1647 in honour of Saints Laurence and Antonius from Padua. He established that the dedication day was celebrated each year, on the second Sunday of July. The dome was finished some years later and this is proved by the copper angel 3 metres high, which had to embellish the lantern.

The Dome

F. MAFFEI, TOBIOL AND THE

ANGEL (1650)

THE PICTORIAL DECORATIONS

P. RICCHI , ST. FRANCIS XAVIER

(1650/1655)

P. RICCHI, THE ORIGINAL SIN

(1648/1650)

G. B. TROTTI, OUR LADY

OF THE ROSARY (1588)

A.CELESTI, THE ASSUMPTION

OF OUR LADY (1705/1710)

A. CELESTI, THE NATIVITY OF OUR LADY (1705/1710)

A. CELESTI, THE MARTYRDOM OF ST. LAURENCE

(1703)

F. MAFFEI, THE LAST SUPPER

(1649)

G. B. TIEPOLO, THE FALL

OF THE MANNA (1740)

G. B. TIEPOLO THE SACRIFICE

OF MELCHISEDEC (1740)

P. LIBERI, OUR LADY WITH

SAINTS AND THE COUNTS GAMBARA

(1655-1660)

A. MAINARDI, THE DEPOSITION

WITH SAINTS (1581)

G. CIRELLO, THE VIRGINS

AGATHA, LUCY AND APOLLONIA

(1658)

L. GALLINA (AND P. TANTINI), THE CRUCIFIXION (1787)

The bell tower

Projected and built by the architect Antonio Tagliaferri, it is 60m high and it has nine bells.

The Discipline

Built between the end of the XIVth and the beginning of the XVth century, it was the first parish church and also the family chapel of Gambaras.

St. Ann Church (1463-1515)

Maggi’s Palace (XVth cent.)

St. Nazaro and St. Celsius Church

Merlin’s Castle, built at the end of the XIIth century, was the first Gambara’s residence,

at the beginning of their rule in this fief.

The Municipal Palace, once Gambara,

in the ancient centre of Verolanuova, is dated from the XVIth to the XVIIth century.

Piazza della Libertà (Liberty square) an ancient square, in front of the Palazzo Gambara,

commonly called "Piazza Grande".

Nocivelli’s Park

WAITING FOR YOU… BYE!!!